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Online organizing ain’t all it’s cracked up to be

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Illinois

* Well, that turned out to be a dud…

All is quiet at SIU’s campus and it wasn’t too noisy even when Governor Bruce Rauner delivered one of the graduation addresses. Many were bracing for big protests.

A controversial visit from Governor Bruce Rauner had some school officials worried of possible protests. Those worries were calmed Saturday, with only a few people outside the SIU Arena.

“It’s an informational picket, not a protest,” said picketer Rich Whitney.

He says the proposed cuts aren’t necessary.

“None of the cuts that Rauner or the General Assembly are talking about are necessary so we’re here to promote a positive solution,” Whitney explained.

Rich Whitney, eh?

Sheesh.

What about the 2,725 people who signed that online petition? Did they just click it and forget it? No large numbers of students? No labor union members protesting en masse?

From what I gathered, the unions decided to wait a bit. Unlike Gov. Quinn before him, Rauner seems to want rowdy confrontations. Better to just leave things to Whitney and his little crew…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 11:52 am

Comments

I was in the SIU Arena and heard the Governor’s address. Not a single “boo” nor any other nasty noises were heard.

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 11:55 am
Rauner wants rowdy confrontations because it helps him get publicity. If he gets national publicity, national money comes his way. It’s all a PR stunt. This man is desperate for national attention.

Comment by Fedup Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 11:57 am
Meh, if you want rowdy confrontations at SIU, throw a kegger on Halloween.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 11:57 am
Rauner doesn’t want to be ignored.

Any confrontation fuels him. Rauner’s rhetoric even says so.

It goes back to the Union negotiations.

No picketing, no demonstrations.

If Rauner decides, legal or not, to lock out workers, stay locked out.

A podium and a daily briefing by the Union spokesperson.

That would drive Rauner up the wall;

“Where’s my rallies? Where’s my chanting? Where are the buses?”… all the while Rauner’s agencies have phones ringing off the hook, no health inspecting of any kind, no social services…

“We’re locked out”, says the lone spokesperson from a podium…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 11:58 am
Keeping the powder dry…

Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Slacktivism at its finest.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:09 pm
Smart move en masse to keep quiet. Dumb move to try to protest this in the first place.

I don’t like many of the Governor’s policies, either, but there’s an effective way to block them…and there’s this.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:09 pm
==Meh, if you want rowdy confrontations at SIU, throw a kegger on Halloween.==

Back in the day, that wouldn’t have drawn any notice, either.

Comment by Anon. Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Beat a pie in the face. Just ask Gov. Ryan.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:30 pm
I agree, unions should absolutely avoid these types of confrontations and should just do what they’ve been doing: bargaining in good faith, educating their members, families and friends, signing up fair share fee payers, showing up at local governments to oppose right to work, trying to work with legislators for pension solutions, opposing illegal policies/laws, etc.

So far the above actions have generally worked out pretty well for unions.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:34 pm
Isn’t the old political adage, when your opponent is damaging himself to let him.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Rauner is his own worst enemy. Let him self-inflict his own wounds.

Comment by East Central Illinois Tuesday, May 19, 15 @ 12:44 pm